Cooperative card wagering game

Abstract

A method for playing a cooperative card wagering game for a plurality of players and a dealer using a customer cooperative wagering table and a deck of cards with each card having a numerical value, the cooperative wagering table having a dealer table edge, a community table edge, and a community line positioned therebetween, each player has an individual hand, and contributes a card to form a community hand by placing the card upon the community line, the players cooperate to maximize the value of the community hand, while also maximizing their respective individual hands, whereby the players cannot obtain a player win result if the community hand is less than the dealer's hand in value.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for playing a cooperative card wagering game having a plurality of players and a dealer, comprising the steps of:
 providing a physical cooperative wagering table comprising a playing surface, the playing surface having a dealer table edge, a community table edge, and a community line positioned therebetween, the community line dividing the playing surface between a dealer area between the community line and the dealer table edge, and a community area between the community line and the community table edge; 
 providing a deck comprising a plurality of cards, each card having a numerical value of between zero and nine; 
 placing a wager by each player; 
 dealing three cards to each player by the dealer to form an individual hand for the player, retaining two cards by the dealer to form the dealer's hand, and hiding the numerical value of each card in the dealer's hand; 
 creating a community hand, each player contributing one of the cards from said player's individual hand to the community hand; 
 revealing the dealer's hand; 
 determining the total numerical value of the dealer's hand; 
 comparing the total numerical value of the dealer's hand with the total numerical value of the community hand, and determining a community result, whereby the community result is a community win if the community hand exceeds the dealer's hand, the community result is a community tie if the community hand equals the dealer's hand, and the community result is a community loss if the community hand is less than dealer's hand; 
 comparing the total value of the dealer's hand with the total value of each individual hand, and determining an individual outcome for each player, whereby the individual result is an individual win if the individual hand of said player exceeds the dealer's hand, the individual result is an individual tie if the individual hand of said player equals the dealer's hand, and the individual result is an individual loss if the individual hand of said player is less than the dealer's hand; 
 determining a game result for each player by considering the community result in combination with the individual result of said player, obtaining the game result of a player win if the community result is a community win or a community tie and the individual result is an individual win, or if the community result is a community win and the individual result is an individual tie, obtaining the game result of a player loss if the individual result is an individual loss and the community result is a community tie or community loss, or if the individual result is an individual tie and the community result is a community loss; 
 forfeiting the wager of each player obtaining the player loss game result; and 
 awarding a payout to each player obtaining the player win game result. 
 
     
     
       2. The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein:
 the step of placing a wager by each player is preceded by the step of positioning each player along the community table edge; 
 the step of dealing three cards to each player further comprises placing the cards of the individual hand of each player within the community area; and 
 the step of creating a community hand further comprises placing the community card contributed by each player in contact with the community line, and distinguishing the cards of the community hand from the cards remaining in the individual hands of each player. 
 
     
     
       3. The method as recited in  claim 2 , wherein:
 the step of revealing the dealer's hand is followed by the step of determining a draw threshold corresponding to a numerical value inversely proportional to the quantity of players, and drawing an additional dealer card and adding the additional dealer card to the dealer's hand if the total numerical value of the dealer's hand is equal to or less than the draw threshold. 
 
     
     
       4. The method as recited in  claim 3 , wherein:
 the step of placing a wager by each player is followed by the step of placing a side bet and a side wager, making a prediction of a side outcome, the side outcome corresponding to the total numerical value of the dealer's hand; 
 the step of determining a game result is followed by the step of winning the side bet by each player who placed the side bet and successfully predicted the side outcome, and losing the side bet by each player who placed the side bet and failed to predict the side outcome; 
 the step of forfeiting the wager further comprises forfeiting the side wager by each player who lost the side bet; and 
 the step of awarding a payout further comprises awarding a side payout to each player who won the side bet. 
 
     
     
       5. The method as recited in  claim 4 , wherein:
 the step of determining a game result further comprises obtaining the game result of a player push if the community result is a community tie and the individual result is an individual tie, if the community result is a community loss and the individual result is an individual win, or if the community result is a community win and the individual result is an individual loss; and 
 the step of awarding a payout is followed by the step of returning the wager of each player who obtained the player push game result. 
 
     
     
       6. The method as recited in  claim 5 , wherein:
 the community table edge is longer than the dealer table edge and has a convex configuration, the dealer table edge has a concave configuration, and the community line is substantially parallel with the community table edge and has an arcuate shape; 
 the step of positioning each player along the community table edge further comprises placing each player such that each player faces inwardly towards the convex dealer table edge, and providing each player with an unobstructed view of the community line; and 
 the step of creating the community hand further comprises placing the community card on the community line and providing each player with an unobstructed view of the community card.